CPU Running Too Hot? Q6600 73+ Degrees C

I just hooked up my Q6600 in a brand new setup. I have a Nexus PHT-7750 cooler and a Antec Sonata II (with the rear air baffle). However, the CPU is running really hot, as far as I can tell. I am idling (before any OS install, just watching the BIOS) at 73 degrees Celsius. The room I'm in is fairly warm, around 27-29 degrees C. I'm not going to be overclocking the CPU at all, and actually I'm looking into building a fairly silent computer (the PHT-7750 is quiet, but not perfect). As far as I can tell on various forums, 70+ degrees is unheard of and I'm running extremely hot. I actually opened the case, didn't achieve any additional cooling (not expected) and touched the heatsink coils. The coils didn't feel very warm, although it's hard to tell. I can't figure out if the heat is getting transfered to the heatsink to get cooled out. Is it possible that mis-applied thermal paste (I just used the stock stuff) is costing me dearly? Or is the Nexus PHT-7750 just a really bad cooler? Have I screwed up in some other big way?

thats not a paste problem... I'll bet that half of your IHS isnt even making contact with your HSF. Either that or you're running your core at 1.5v

Ok, I will clean the paste and re-apply. I used the strategy on Arctic Cooling, which is to put a thin line across the CPU and apply that way, but the paste doesn't appear to have pushed across the entire CPU. I need to get some new paste to re-apply. Any recommendations? Also, any good tutorials on how to install a heatsink properly? I clearly screwed something up badly on this install.

well also use a proper thermal paste such as arctic silver 5

it really smells like bad cooler installation..

greetz

X

yah because it doesn't have an unlocked multiplyer like the X series. U can lower it though.

It is not the min. you can have it lower if u want.

I didn't get a stock heatsink got the proc chip OEM - should I go buy a cheapo from Radioshack or something similar?

I got myself Arctic Silver 5 and redid the install.

I pulled out the CPU and cleaned with Isopropyl, same with the heatsink. Then I applied 2 small dabs evenly across the CPU and wiped off the excess. I pushed down the CPU evenly and firmly and locked it into place. It still felt a little loose, so I gave it another heavy push. Not much accomplished, the heatsink still wiggles a bit (the "legs" are locked, but the heatsink wiggles).

I turned on the computer and watched the temp go up to about 52 degrees. Then I adjusted smartfan settings to spin the CPU to the highest level. The temp retreated to about 49 and stayed fairly stable between 49-51.

Then I installed the Sonata II air baffle which is supposed to get air away from the CPU, but as far as I can tell, does a better job trapping it. The temp rose to 53-54 degrees and stabilized. Then I put the cover on, the temp stabilized to 55 degrees. Then I adjusted the fans back down to regular level and it's stabilized at 58.

Finally, I tilted the case into it's upright position and was expecting a HUGE drop off (because if Paul is right above, the heatsink should be loose, and not have enough downward pressure on it to cover the CPU. I was pleasantly surprised to see it only hike up to 59 degrees celsius.

From what I gather, I'm still much hotter than normal (by at least 10 degrees) but I think it's something I can deal with as a non-overclocker. Thanks for your help everyone.

What motherboard are you using? I've seen temp readings be way off before (which is why my 4200+ supposedly idles at 60C at stock speeds)...

I'm using the XFX nForce 680i LT. Interestingly enough, once I loaded Ubuntu and played around for a bit, then checked the temp, it was 52 degrees. This was just after some basic installing and web browsing. It appears the BIOS is spinning the CPU quite a bit higher than it needs too.